The MSC sets and manages a leading global standard for sustainable fishing against which fisheries are certified, and its blue fish label is the most globally recognized for sustainable seafood.
Learn about our fisheries
Fisheries in Canada and the US have played an important role in the growth of the global sustainable seafood movement.
Alaska salmon first achieved MSC certification in 2000, just as the MSC program was getting started. Twenty-five years later, the fishery achieved its fifth certification, making it one of the longest-standing fisheries in the MSC program. And while Canada ranks 23rd globally in wild seafood production, it is among the top 5 countries worldwide in adoption of the MSC Fisheries program.
Certification is also about continued improvement. Fisheries are regularly audited and reassessed against the MSC Fisheries Standard, creating opportunities to respond to new science, changing ocean conditions, and emerging challenges. Over decades in the MSC program, Canadian and US fisheries have continued to strengthen the science, monitoring, and management that support long-term sustainability.
The result is a diverse community of fishermen, seafood businesses, scientists, and managers working toward the same goal: healthy fish populations, thriving ocean ecosystems, and resilient fishing communities for generations to come.